Afega Seek to Evict Residents on Disputed Lands

By Lagi Keresoma

Apia, Samoa – 04 December 2023: After winning last weeks’ court decision against the application to stop the development of disputed land at Levi and Alamutu villages, representatives of Afega are now seeking an eviction order from the Court to remove people whom they believe are residing illegally on lands claimed to belong to Afega.

The residents include a family of Leauva’a, two families from Levi and neighbouring Lotoso’a village.

The hearing for an eviction order started today at the Lands & Titles Court with several people of Lotoso’a submitting requests to the Court to allow them to be part of the hearing.

Some of them who have houses and plantations on these lands were unaware of the eviction order hearing and only found out today hence the urgent request to be party to the case.

Last week, the Lands & Titles Court delivered a decision against the stay of proceeding petition by the Alii ma Faipule of Levi & Alamutu Saleimoa for Afega to stop work on the lands.

Today, Afega sought an eviction order to remove them from the land so they could continue with their excavation and work.

According to Maulolo Tavita Amosa who led Afega side in last week’s hearing, Afega won the 1963 the case between Afega and Tuanai on these lands and only recently they decided to activate the 1963 decision and started work on the lands only to be met by a strong rejection from the people of Levi.

The same argument was put forward by residents of Leauva’a a few years back and according to Maulolo, Afega gave Leauvaa lands to reside and work on under the “faamalumaluga” of Afega just as they did with Levi & Alamutu.

At today’s hearing, there were people from Tufulele and other villages on the western side of Afega who were interested in the outcome of the hearing.

Asked about their interest in the Afega and Levi matter, they said that Afega seems to think their authority and ownership over the lands reaches as far as Faleasiu in the Aana district.

The case continues at the Lands and Titles Court.